Wiltshire County Guide
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Historic churches in Wiltshire treasuresexplore the within visitchurches.org.uk/daysout 2 Wiltshire’s historic treasures Wiltshire is known the world over for its ancient monuments but it has other great treasures – its historic churches. 4 Many are Medieval, tucked away in pretty valleys or by rivers. Some retain the traces of their Saxon or Norman past with carved fonts, beautiful doorways or stone arches. Others show the work of later centuries, with opulent monuments and sumptuous colour and decoration. All the churches in this leaflet have been saved by The Churches Conservation Trust. The Trust is a charity that cares for more than 340 churches in England. This is one of 18 leaflets that highlight their history and treasures. For more information on the other guides in this series, find serenity as well as interactive maps and downloadable information, in the peace and stillness of see visitchurches.org.uk St John the Baptist, Inglesham 1 Fisherton 3 Delamere, Old Dilton, St Nicholas St Mary A Medieval marvel Church with in wonderful a curious spire near walking country the White Horse This hillside church stands in a pretty churchyard and The 14th-century St Mary’s lies down a pretty wooded lane is a convenient stopping point for Wylye Valley walkers. near the river Biss, on one of the many walking paths to the Originally built in the 14th century, today’s church is largely Westbury White Horse. A railway arch opens out onto a simple a 19th-century copy, rebuilt in the old style using the original churchyard, revealing an unusual church – squat yet pretty, materials. Inside, the church has an airy simplicity. There is with a tiny stone spire like an inverted ice-cream cone. Inside, a touching 17th-century memorial to two small babies, one little has changed since the 18th century, and furnishings shown in bed, the other wrapped in a shroud. The elegant include two small galleries, a three-decker pulpit and box pews. carved screen dates from 1912. Westbury BA13 4DB Fisherton Delamere, Warminster BA12 0PZ 3m N of Warminster off A350 11m NW of Salisbury off A36 and 1m N of Wylye Nearest railway station: Dilton Marsh (1.6 miles) Nearest railway station: Tisbury (7 miles) Keyholder nearby Open daily visitchurches.org.uk/daysout 2 Inglesham, St John the 4 Baptist West Dean, An ancient painted Borbach Chantry wonder saved by Memorial secrets William Morris Spend a day with us Spend a day in a secluded chapel This remote 13th-century church with Saxon origins stands Striking memorials grace this fascinating rural chapel on a gentle rise of land above waterside meadows near the – which is all that remains of a 14th-century church. Thames and just off the Ridgeway Path. Pioneering Victorian The earliest, a wall memorial from the 1620s, shows John designer William Morris – who lived at nearby Kelmscott Evelyn and his wife kneeling in grand Stuart fashions, with – oversaw St John’s restoration in the 19th century, ensuring their 11 children in a line below. Perhaps the most imposing it kept its original Medieval identity. An amazing series of memorial is Robert Pierrepont’s – an angel supports his paintings, from the 13th to the 19th century, cover the walls life-sized marble figure. The chapel stands alone in excellent and a lovely Saxon stonecarving of the Madonna and Child walking country – a great place to take a break. is set in the south wall. Off Rectory Hill, West Dean, Salisbury SP5 1JJ Inglesham, Swindon SN6 7RD 7m SE of Salisbury off A36 1m S of Lechlade off A361 Nearest railway station: Dean (0.2 miles) Nearest railway station: Swindon (9 miles) Restricted access, telephone 01179 291766 at least Open daily 24 hours before your visit Everleigh, St Peter 10 More churches to enjoy Built in 1813 in the Gothic style, St Peter’s was one of the Each CCT church has been saved because it is special. first churches to be constructed with an iron frame. It has We can’t do justice to them all in one leaflet, so visit our website monuments from a previous church and a ring of six bells. for more information on those only briefly described here. Everleigh, Marlborough SN8 3EY 11m NW of Andover and 5m E of Upavon on A342 Satellite navigation by postcode is misleading: the church Alton Priors, All Saints 5 This lovely, Medieval church stands in an idyllic spot. is beyond the village in woodland, just past the farm shop. Inside a mysterious trapdoor conceals a buried Sarsen Open daily stone (a sandstone block). The churchyard yew is said to be 1,700 years old. Idmiston, All Saints 11 Salisbury SN8 4LB Imposing Medieval church with gorgeous stonecarving 8m SW of Marlborough off A345 and gruesome gargoyles. There are monuments to the local Bowle family, including vicar John Bowle, who edited Open daily Apr to Oct; at other times keyholder nearby an edition of Don Quixote. Idmiston, Salisbury SP4 0AU Berwick Bassett, St Nicholas 6 A secluded church by a farmyard near Avebury and the 6m NE of Salisbury off A338 old Ridgeway track, built of brick and local Sarsen stone. Keyholder nearby The interior is light and simple and has a pretty carved screen. Marlborough SN4 9NQ Imber, St Giles 12 8m NW of Marlborough off A4361 A lovely 13th-century church in the ghost village of Imber, which was evacuated for military training purposes in 1943. Open daily Inside are 15th-century murals; outside are the empty shells of abandoned houses and beautiful rolling downland. Berwick St Leonard, St Leonard 7 A Norman church saved by restoration in 1861 by the 7m NE of Warminster off A362 owner of the local Fonthill estate. Inside is a Norman font Restricted access; please phone 0117 929 1766 for further and a poignant 17th-century memorial to six children from visitchurches.org.uk/joinus information the Howe family. Salisbury SP3 5UA Leigh, All Saints Old Chancel 13 13m W of Salisbury and 1m E of Hindon on B3089 The remains of a Medieval church near the source of the Thames that was abandoned to its wetland surroundings Open daily in the 19th century. Texts from the 17th century, framed in designs of scrolls and clouds, decorate the walls. Chute Forest, St Mary 8 Remote and rural Victorian church in a tree-filled church- Cricklade SN6 6QY yard, built with frugal inventiveness. The charming design of 3m W of Cricklade off B4040 flint, brick and tile includes pretty stained glass windows. Become a supporter Open daily Andover SP11 9DF 6m NW of Andover off A342 Leigh Delamere, St Margaret of Antioch 14 A glorious Victorian confection of a church, built using Open daily parts of its 12th-century predecessor. It features a dazzling west window in the otherwise evocative neo-Gothic gloom. Draycot Cerne, St James 9 This small, handsome parkland church has a 13th-century Leigh Delamere, Chippenham SN14 6JZ stone figure of a knight, a Georgian pulpit and box pews, 5m NE of Chippenham and 2m W of Junction 17 and sumptuously coloured Victorian glass. and N of M4 Draycot Cerne, Chippenham SN15 5LG Keyholder nearby 4m N of Chippenham and 2m SE of Junction 17 of M4 off B4069 Please contact keyholder before visit: 01249 750649 Maddington, St Mary 15 Sutton Veny, St Leonard 20 This beautiful church, with its striking flint-and-sandstone A partially ruined Medieval church abandoned in the chequerboard walls, lies in a shady churchyard at the top 1860s. Inside the peaceful, atmospheric chancel are of a long footpath. Originally Norman, it has been altered benefaction boards, a bier, a font and elegant memorials. extensively since without losing its charm. Duck Street, Sutton Veny, Warminster BA12 7AL Maddington, Shrewton, Salisbury SP3 4JE 3m SE of Warminster off B3095 11m NW of Salisbury off A360, on W side of Shrewton village Keyholder nearby Open daily Wilton, St Mary Old Church 21 Orcheston, St George 16 There are fascinating memorials to the people of Wilton A secluded church in a lush valley near a small village. in the remains of this church, which stands surrounded It has a Norman north door and 13th-century windows. by the romantic ruins of its arcades and tower arch. Inside, most of the fittings are Victorian. Wilton, Salisbury SP2 0HQ Orcheston, Salisbury SP3 4RH 3m W of Salisbury on A30, in the centre of Wilton 12m NW of Salisbury and 1m N of Shrewton off A360 Keyholder nearby Satellite navigation by postcode is misleading: the church is in the middle of Orcheston, do not turn off beforehand. Open daily Apr-Sep; at other times keyholder nearby 4 Rollestone, St Andrew 17 A tiny, charming church, built mainly in the 13th century, with a little wooden bell turret. Inside, it has its original font. The oak benches with Jacobean carved ends come from St Catherine’s, Hayden, Dorset. It was owned by the religious crusading order of the Knights Hospitaller for 350 years. Rollestone Road, Rollestone, Shrewton, Salisbury SP3 4HG Satellite navigation by postcode is misleading: access is down driveway by ‘Shrewton’ roadsign, not down Rollestone Road. 10m NW of Salisbury and 1m SE of Shrewton off A360 Open daily South Tidworth, St Mary 18 This fine steepled edifice surrounded by trees was designed in 1878 by John Johnson, the architect of London’s Alexandra Palace. Its interior is sumptuously decorated with exotic marbles and Italian mosaics. South Drive, Tedworth House, South Tidworth SP9 7AH 13m NE of Salisbury and 1m S of Tidworth on A338 Keyholder nearby Stratford Tony, St Mary & St Lawrence 19 This Medieval church is reached down a narrow lane, then a footpath across a stream and up a steep bank.